Disabled Veterans National Foundation Applauds Senate for Passing Cost-of-Living Adjustment Bill That Will Increase Benefits to Veterans in 2013

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Passage of the bill means that Veterans and their families to receive an additional $500 in January

Washington, DC (PRWEB)November 15, 2012

The Disabled Veterans National Foundation(DVNF), a nonprofit organization that exists to help men and women who come home with emotional and physical wounds after serving our country, is applauding the U.S. Senate for passing a bill to boost benefit payments to veterans next year, and is spreading the word to the soldiers it serves.

Passage of the bill means an additional $500 in benefits for veterans and their families next year. Starting in January, veterans and surviving family members will begin to see receive the extra funds in their checks sent by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in January.

“We are grateful that the Senate moved this legislation through, as many of our veterans are struggling in the current economy,” said DVNF President Precilla Wilkewitz. “The amount may not sound like much to some of us, but to many veterans an additional $500 might mean the ability to stay in their home or feed their children.”

More than 3.9 million veterans and surviving spouses and children are expected to benefit from the 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment.

The bill reportedly stalled in September, but was passed by the Senate on November 13th after Senate Republicans stated that it had been cleared. According to the VA, that was the latest date the bill could be approved in order for the agency to allocate the funds on January 1.

“The extra money will be a much-needed boost at the start of the new year for our veterans,” said Wilkewitz. “There are thousands of America’s heroes who depend on their VA benefits to pay for their basic living expenses while they get readjusted to civilian and family life, get help for health issues incurred as a result of selflessly serving our country, and look for a job.”

About Disabled Veterans National Foundation: The Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to change the lives of men and women who came home wounded or sick after serving our country. A nonprofit 501c3, DVNF was founded in the fall of 2007 by six women veterans to provide disabled men and women of the military with help obtaining housing, medical care, counseling and meaningful jobs. For more information, visit http://www.dvnf.org.